2023 Gun Laws - Comments from Sam Paredes, Gun Owners of California
AB1133
CA law requires CCW course of training to be at least 8 hours, etc. This bill requires the DOJ to create a state-approved standardized curriculum for CCW applicants. ***GOC: There is no need for this bill period - especially since CCW holders are the most law-abiding sub-section of individuals in the country. By requiring a “cookie cutter” curriculum for all CCW applicants, they guarantee that the program will serve no one. Different regions of the state have different issues and situations affecting the members of the community. Every issuing authority, whether Sheriff or Chief of Police, has been doing a perfect job of setting the most appropriate requirements for their residents.
The track record speaks for itself. CCW holders are the most law-aiding of all segments of society, and there have been zero instances of CCW holders breaking any law regarding carrying a firearm. This bill is wholly unnecessary and may, in fact, make Californians unsafe.
State Legislature's Description AB 1133, as amended, Schiavo. Firearms: concealed carry licenses. Existing law authorizes the sheriff of a county or the chief or other head of a municipal police department of any city or city and county to issue a license to carry a concealed firearm to an applicant for that license if the applicant is of good moral character, good cause exists for issuance of the license, the applicant meets specified residency requirements, and the applicant has completed a specified course of training, acceptable to the licensing authority. Existing law requires the training course to be no less than 8 hours, including instruction on firearm handling and shooting technique, as specified, and live-fire exercises conducted on a firing range. Existing law provides that, for license renewal applicants, the training course may be acceptable to the licensing authority, must be at least 4 hours, and must meet the above-described requirements. This bill would, on and after January 1, 2026, require the Department of Justice to develop, evaluate, update, maintain, and publish a standardized curriculum for a concealed firearm license. The bill would require the department to create a standardized test, as specified, and to make that test available on a web portal. The bill would require an applicant to submit proof of passing that examination as part of an application to carry a concealed firearm. The bill would authorize the department to charge a reasonable fee for taking the standardized test and require that fee to be used, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the service, maintenance, and administration of the web portal for the test. The bill would additionally require the department to develop, evaluate, update, maintain, and publish ethical and professional standards for concealed carry instructors to maintain their certification with the department. The bill would require those instructors, for each applicant who receives a certificate of completion for any class taken by the certified instructor, to provide a sworn statement verifying that the applicant has successfully met the curriculum requirements and would make any instructor who knowingly or willingly makes a false sworn statement punishable by an infraction. This bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime.
SB2
Currently, the law prohibits a person from carrying a concealed firearm or carrying a loaded firearm in public unless a permit has been issued by local law enforcement and certain conditions have been met. ***GOC: As amended, this bill makes sweeping changes, including an increase in fees, to the process of applying for a CCW. Much like last year's SB 918, the bill also establishes extraordinary prohibitions on where a firearm can be legally carried. Its legislative "twin" in New York has been declared unconstitutional TWICE in federal court. ***GOC will continue to oppose each draconian change this law strives to accomplish and will monitor current court activity on this very issue.
State Legislature's Description SB 2, as amended, Portantino. Firearms. Existing law prohibits a person from carrying a concealed firearm or carrying a loaded firearm in public. Existing law authorizes a licensing authority, as specified, if good cause exists for the issuance and is subject to certain other criteria, including, among other things, the applicant is of good moral character and has completed a specified course of training, to issue a license to carry a concealed handgun or to carry a loaded and exposed handgun, as specified. Under existing law, the required course of training for an applicant is no more than 16 hours and covers firearm safety and laws regarding the permissible use of a firearm. This bill would require the licensing authority to issue or renew a license if the applicant is not a disqualified person for the license and the applicant is at least 21 years of age. The bill would remove the good character and good cause requirements from the issuance criteria. Under the bill, the applicant would be disqualified if they, among other things, are reasonably likely to be a danger to themselves, others, or the community at large, as specified. This bill would add the requirement that the applicant be the recorded owner, with the Department of Justice, of the pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person. This bill would change the training requirement to be no less than 16 hours in length and would add additional subjects to the course, including, among other things, the safe storage and legal transportation of firearms. The bill would require an issuing authority, prior to that issuance, renewal, or amendment to a license, if it has direct access to the designated department system to determine if the applicant is the recorded owner of the pistol, revolver, or other firearms. The bill would require an issuing authority without access to that system to confirm the ownership with the sheriff of the county in which the agency is located. This bill would create a state-mandated local program by requiring local agencies to issue concealed firearms licenses. The bill would require a licensing authority to provide the applicant notice if a new license or license renewal is denied or revoked. If an application is denied or a license is revoked based on a determination that the applicant is a disqualified person, the bill would permit the applicant to request a hearing to challenge the license denial or revocation and require the licensing authority to inform the applicant of the ability to seek a hearing.
AB1133
CA law requires CCW course of training to be at least 8 hours, etc. This bill requires the DOJ to create a state-approved standardized curriculum for CCW applicants. ***GOC: There is no need for this bill period - especially since CCW holders are the most law-abiding sub-section of individuals in the country. By requiring a “cookie cutter” curriculum for all CCW applicants, they guarantee that the program will serve no one. Different regions of the state have different issues and situations affecting the members of the community. Every issuing authority, whether Sheriff or Chief of Police, has been doing a perfect job of setting the most appropriate requirements for their residents.
The track record speaks for itself. CCW holders are the most law-aiding of all segments of society, and there have been zero instances of CCW holders breaking any law regarding carrying a firearm. This bill is wholly unnecessary and may, in fact, make Californians unsafe.
State Legislature's Description AB 1133, as amended, Schiavo. Firearms: concealed carry licenses. Existing law authorizes the sheriff of a county or the chief or other head of a municipal police department of any city or city and county to issue a license to carry a concealed firearm to an applicant for that license if the applicant is of good moral character, good cause exists for issuance of the license, the applicant meets specified residency requirements, and the applicant has completed a specified course of training, acceptable to the licensing authority. Existing law requires the training course to be no less than 8 hours, including instruction on firearm handling and shooting technique, as specified, and live-fire exercises conducted on a firing range. Existing law provides that, for license renewal applicants, the training course may be acceptable to the licensing authority, must be at least 4 hours, and must meet the above-described requirements. This bill would, on and after January 1, 2026, require the Department of Justice to develop, evaluate, update, maintain, and publish a standardized curriculum for a concealed firearm license. The bill would require the department to create a standardized test, as specified, and to make that test available on a web portal. The bill would require an applicant to submit proof of passing that examination as part of an application to carry a concealed firearm. The bill would authorize the department to charge a reasonable fee for taking the standardized test and require that fee to be used, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the service, maintenance, and administration of the web portal for the test. The bill would additionally require the department to develop, evaluate, update, maintain, and publish ethical and professional standards for concealed carry instructors to maintain their certification with the department. The bill would require those instructors, for each applicant who receives a certificate of completion for any class taken by the certified instructor, to provide a sworn statement verifying that the applicant has successfully met the curriculum requirements and would make any instructor who knowingly or willingly makes a false sworn statement punishable by an infraction. This bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime.
SB2
Currently, the law prohibits a person from carrying a concealed firearm or carrying a loaded firearm in public unless a permit has been issued by local law enforcement and certain conditions have been met. ***GOC: As amended, this bill makes sweeping changes, including an increase in fees, to the process of applying for a CCW. Much like last year's SB 918, the bill also establishes extraordinary prohibitions on where a firearm can be legally carried. Its legislative "twin" in New York has been declared unconstitutional TWICE in federal court. ***GOC will continue to oppose each draconian change this law strives to accomplish and will monitor current court activity on this very issue.
State Legislature's Description SB 2, as amended, Portantino. Firearms. Existing law prohibits a person from carrying a concealed firearm or carrying a loaded firearm in public. Existing law authorizes a licensing authority, as specified, if good cause exists for the issuance and is subject to certain other criteria, including, among other things, the applicant is of good moral character and has completed a specified course of training, to issue a license to carry a concealed handgun or to carry a loaded and exposed handgun, as specified. Under existing law, the required course of training for an applicant is no more than 16 hours and covers firearm safety and laws regarding the permissible use of a firearm. This bill would require the licensing authority to issue or renew a license if the applicant is not a disqualified person for the license and the applicant is at least 21 years of age. The bill would remove the good character and good cause requirements from the issuance criteria. Under the bill, the applicant would be disqualified if they, among other things, are reasonably likely to be a danger to themselves, others, or the community at large, as specified. This bill would add the requirement that the applicant be the recorded owner, with the Department of Justice, of the pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person. This bill would change the training requirement to be no less than 16 hours in length and would add additional subjects to the course, including, among other things, the safe storage and legal transportation of firearms. The bill would require an issuing authority, prior to that issuance, renewal, or amendment to a license, if it has direct access to the designated department system to determine if the applicant is the recorded owner of the pistol, revolver, or other firearms. The bill would require an issuing authority without access to that system to confirm the ownership with the sheriff of the county in which the agency is located. This bill would create a state-mandated local program by requiring local agencies to issue concealed firearms licenses. The bill would require a licensing authority to provide the applicant notice if a new license or license renewal is denied or revoked. If an application is denied or a license is revoked based on a determination that the applicant is a disqualified person, the bill would permit the applicant to request a hearing to challenge the license denial or revocation and require the licensing authority to inform the applicant of the ability to seek a hearing.
GUN LAWS FOR 2020
- If you have a gun-violence restraining order, you’ll be prohibited from buying a firearm for up to five years, under AB 12 by Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin, D-Thousand Oaks. It takes effect Sept. 1.
- An employer, coworker, employee or teacher can seek a gun-violence restraining order from a court, allowing police to remove firearms from someone making threats, under AB 61 by Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco. It takes effect Sept. 1.
- You can’t buy guns in California if you are prohibited from buying guns in another state, under AB 164 by Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes, D-Corona. The bill takes effect Jan. 1.
- California law enforcement agencies before Jan. 1, 2021 must develop and adopt written policies and standards regarding the use of gun violence restraining orders under Irwin’s AB 339.
- Suicide warning labels must be on gun packages and in gun stores by June 1, under Irwin’s AB 645. The handgun safety certificate test also will cover the topic of suicide.
- Certain gun “precursor” parts must be sold through a licensed vendor under AB 879 by Assemblyman Mike Gipson, D-Carson. Provisions of the bill begin to take effect Jan. 1, but others don’t until July 1, 2024 or 2025.
- No more firearms and ammunition can be sold at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego after Jan. 1, 2021, under AB 893 by Assemblyman Todd Gloria, D-San Diego.
- The $100 cap on processing fees for concealed firearm licenses is going away with the passage of AB 1297 by Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento. County sheriffs can now charge “an amount equal to the actual costs for processing the application,” according to the bill, which takes effect Jan. 1.
- If you have a gun-violence restraining order against you, you can fill out a form that says you’re willing to relinquish your guns, under Ting’s AB 1493. The bill takes effect Sept. 1.
- Nonprofits “that are at high risk of terrorist attack due to ideology, beliefs, or mission” can apply for state grants of up to $200,000 from a newly formed State Nonprofit Security Grant Program to beef up their onsite security. The bill, AB 1548 by Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, D-San Fernando Valley, was in response to mass shootings at mosques, churches and synagogues.
- Starting Jan. 1, the fees Californians pay the state when purchasing a firearm will climb to $38.19, with the passage of AB 1669 by Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Alameda. The bill also updated California’s legal code to reflect that gun show regulations apply to ammunition vendors.
- If you’re younger than 21, you can’t buy a semiautomatic center-fire rifle starting Jan. 1. SB 61 by State Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge, also prohibits Californians from buying more than one semiautomatic center-fire rifle in a 30-day period beginning on July 1, 2021.
- Beginning Jan. 1, the owner of any unlocked gun taken out of a home by a child or a “prohibited person” can be charged with a crime and penalized with a 10-year ban on gun ownership under Portantino’s SB 172. The bill also set gun storage requirements for nursing homes.
- The number of gun transactions a person can make without a firearms dealer license is now limited to six per year under SB 376. Portantino’s bill takes effect Jan. 1.